TimesPulse

The most popular movies among NYTimes.com readers.

Review Summary

A young mail carrier provides hope to the illiterate residents of his village by putting a positive spin on their relative's letters, but realizes he has done more damage than good when the depths of his deception are finally revealed. Emilio (Jose Eduardo) is a young orphan from Chihuahua, Mexico. His serine village nestled in the shadow of Copper Canyon, Emilio befriends local mailman Teo (Jorge Galavan), who eventually decides to adopt the boy. In addition to delivering the mail, Teo also takes dictation as a means of helping the largely illiterate locals communicate with their loved ones in the north. Before long, Emilio is helping out with the route, and assisting in writing letters. Over time, the sad nature of the letters begins to eat away at young Emilio's soul, and when Teo is no longer physically capable of delivering the mail, his young protégé takes over. Instead of telling the recipients the truth about their relatives' situations, however, Emilio embellishes the details to make it appear as if they have finally found happiness in the United States. Meanwhile, as the locals begin to catch on, Emilio meets the beautiful Elena and experiences the first pangs of childhood love. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi